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Twenty five pounds of marijuana with a street value of more than $45,000 was confiscated Wednesday morning on Interstate 20, according to Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant.
Jorge Salas, 27, remains in the Erath County Jail on $15,000 bond facing charges of possession of marijuana over five pounds, under 50 pounds – a third degree felony.
"On Nov. 10 at about 3 a.m. Deputy Joel Hoover stopped a 1994 Oldsmobile two-door traveling east on Interstate 20 from El Paso," Bryant said.
Hoover made contact with the driver, Salas, and Bryant said the deputy noticed a small child laying in the back seat unsecured.
"(Hoover) said the driver appeared nervous and when he asked him if he had any outstanding warrants, he said he had numerous warrants," Bryant said.
Bryant said Hoover then contacted the El Paso Intelligence Center to see if Salas had ever been "detained or checked."
"Salas ended up not having any outstanding warrants but the vehicle had been stopped at the border in February and searched in Alabama," Bryant said. "That search revealed non-factory compartments but was not specific to the location of those compartments."
Hoover then obtained a warrant for consent to search the vehicle, revealing a non-factory compartment in the driver's rear fender.
"The compartment was full of contraband that was believed to be marijuana," Bryant said. "Two additional bundles were found under the backseat where the child was laying – sometimes these people use small children as a decoy thinking law enforcement won't think they're hiding drugs under a child. Another compartment was located on the passenger side of the vehicle."
By Anna Boudreau
Stephenville Empire Tribune
Jorge Salas, 27, remains in the Erath County Jail on $15,000 bond facing charges of possession of marijuana over five pounds, under 50 pounds – a third degree felony.
"On Nov. 10 at about 3 a.m. Deputy Joel Hoover stopped a 1994 Oldsmobile two-door traveling east on Interstate 20 from El Paso," Bryant said.
Hoover made contact with the driver, Salas, and Bryant said the deputy noticed a small child laying in the back seat unsecured.
"(Hoover) said the driver appeared nervous and when he asked him if he had any outstanding warrants, he said he had numerous warrants," Bryant said.
Bryant said Hoover then contacted the El Paso Intelligence Center to see if Salas had ever been "detained or checked."
"Salas ended up not having any outstanding warrants but the vehicle had been stopped at the border in February and searched in Alabama," Bryant said. "That search revealed non-factory compartments but was not specific to the location of those compartments."
Hoover then obtained a warrant for consent to search the vehicle, revealing a non-factory compartment in the driver's rear fender.
"The compartment was full of contraband that was believed to be marijuana," Bryant said. "Two additional bundles were found under the backseat where the child was laying – sometimes these people use small children as a decoy thinking law enforcement won't think they're hiding drugs under a child. Another compartment was located on the passenger side of the vehicle."
By Anna Boudreau
Stephenville Empire Tribune
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